THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR

Andrew Lowrie reflects on his October punting activity

- Andrew Lowrie

October really does signify the start of the Jumps season “proper” with several of the country’s leading tracks staging their first meets of the new campaign.

This will be my 22nd season as a full time punter/adviser, but even now this remains the time of year I most look forward to, the return of top class National Hunt racing.

Optimum Racing, the advisory service I have run since 1999, offers a comprehensive preview of the day’s racing. However, the bets advised are selective and suitable for clients who treat their betting as an investment. This strategy has rewarded us with outstanding long term profits.

FONTWELL October 2nd

The best bet on Friday’s card was Erik le Rouge, or so I thought. I placed a decent each way wager at 5/1, but by halfway was rather wishing I hadn’t!!

Erik le Rouge had made a favourable impression when winning at Kempton in January and looked a chaser to keep on the right side of. On this occasion, however, he failed to fire and was beaten by halfway, eventually finishing last of the nine runners.

Post race it was reported that Erik le Rouge had a breathing problem, a problem shared by some Optimum Racing clients who watched the race, I fear!

October 8th

Exeter staged their curtain raiser, a meeting at which there seemed to be some value on offer.